In-game analysis of Gonzaga vs. Michigan Players Era Festival championship

Bulldogs battle Wolverines in heavyweight bout from Las Vegas

Nov 26, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Michigan Wolverines guard Trey McKenney (1) reacts in the second half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the 2025 Players Era Festival championship game at MGM Grand Garden Arena. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The good news for Gonzaga was that it left Las Vegas with an extra $1.5 million in NIL funds.

The bad news was that the Zags (7-1) suffered their worst loss under head coach Mark Few in a 101-61 loss to Michigan in the Players Era Festival championship.

The latter was probably at the forefront of Gonzaga fans' minds throughout the clinic Michigan put on Wednesday night.

The Wolverines jumped out to a double-digit lead within the first 5 minutes of regulation and never looked back, turning what was supposed to be a riveting showdown into a bloodbath by halftime. Michigan led by 25 at the break after knocking down eight 3-pointers and shooting 61.3% from the field.

It didn't help Gonzaga's cause that its leading scorer, Graham Ike, finished with just 1 point in 17 minutes of action. Braden Huff managed the damage early on but couldn't overcome a big night from Yaxel Lendeborg. Michigan's preseason All-American drilled a 3-pointer in the opening minute and finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds.

Nov 26, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs head coach Mark Few reacts in the first half against the Michigan Wolverines in the 2025 Players Era Festival championship game at MGM Grand Garden Arena. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Nothing went right for the Bulldogs and everything went right for the Wolverines, put simply. Michigan drained 13 3-pointers and became just the fourth team to score over 100 against Gonzaga since 2007.

Here were the key storylines developing over the course of the Players Era Festival championship game.

Battle of the frontcourts

Lendeborg did his part in stirring the pot, saying Michigan had the best frontcourt in the country ahead of Wednesday night's showdown against Ike and Huff.

Michigan's frontcourt backed up Lendeborg's sentiments early on, with the UAB transfer drilling a 3-pointer out of the gate and Mara following up with a jumphook on the Wolverines' ensuing possession.

Lendeborg drilled another triple moments later, powering a 13-3 start for Michigan out of the gate.

Nov 26, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Michigan Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) reacts in the second half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the 2025 Players Era Festival championship game at MGM Grand Garden Arena. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Ike and Huff, meanwhile, combined for a 1-for-6 start, with Ike missing his first four attempts.

Huff managed to establish some sort of rhythm inside the arc as the half progressed. A few floaters in the lane from the 6-foot-10 redshirt junior helped the Zags weather the storm, though he'd need help in order to complete the 19-point rally.

Ike, meanwhile, picked up his second foul amid an 0-for-8 start from the field. Gonzaga's leading scorer was held to 1 point at halftime.

Michigan's frontcourt continued to dominate in the second half, and the Zags never found an answer for Lendeborg, who threw down a reverse dunk with just over 8 minutes left in regulation to make it a 44-point margin.

How Gonzaga handled the No. 1 defense in the country

Gonzaga went from facing a high-powered offensive unit in Alabama to a hard-nosed team in Michigan, which ranked No. 1 in the country adjusted defensive efficiency entering the game.

The Zags struggled as they rushed shots and came up empty on a couple of good looks early on, resulting in a 2-for-7 start from the field.

Nov 26, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; A shot by Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Braden Huff (34) is blocked by Michigan Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) in the second half in the 2025 Players Era Festival championship game at MGM Grand Garden Arena. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

It didn't help that the Zags couldn't slow the Wolverines out of the gate. Michigan started 11-of-15 from the field and 3-for-6 from 3-point range. Gonzaga went with a zone to try and stop the bleeding, yielding mixed results as Michigan managed to extend its lead to 19 through the first 10 minutes of regulation.

Even as the Zags trimmed into their deficit, it felt like the Wolverines had six players on the floor defensively. Because no matter how well Gonzaga shared the rock, Michigan nailed its rotations and forced cross-court passes that completely stalled any energy created by the Zags' ball movement.

Staying out of foul trouble

Given how both teams liked to play physical, it was only a matter of time before one side found itself in foul trouble.

Ike and Huff both picked up a foul within the first 6 minutes of regulation.

Small-ball "4" Jalen Warley picked up two quick fouls in 3 minutes off the bench, putting the Zags in an interesting spot with their frontcourt spots heading down the stretch of the first half.

Nov 26, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Jalen Warley (8) and Michigan Wolverines center Aday Mara (15) battle for the ball in the first half in the 2025 Players Era Festival championship game at MGM Grand Garden Arena. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Grant-Foster also had two fouls in his first 7 minutes of action. The 6-foot-7 forward managed to draw the first foul against Michigan at the 8:17 mark.

Ike and Braeden Smith also had two fouls apiece at halftime.

Huff inexplicably picked up three fouls over the course of a sloppy 3 minutes to start the second half, bringing his total to four with 17 minutes left in regulation.